Intermediates for the preparation of



INTERMEDIATES FOR "ran PREPARATION OF CAROTENOIDS V Hans Herloff Inhofien, Braunschweig, Germany, assignor to Hoflt'mann-La Roche Inc, Nutley, N. J., a corporation ofNewJersey I v No Drawing. Application December-18 195s Serial No. 399,171

Claims priority, application Switzerland December 23, 1952 3 Claims. (Cl. 260-4103) The present invention provides novel polyene compounds of the general formula wherein X stands for a carbalkoxy, carboxy or oxymethyl group. The said polyene compounds are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of ,B-carotene and carotenoids.

The invention further provides a process for the manufacture of the above polyene compounds, which process comprises condensing 4-[2,6',6'-trimethylcyclohexene- 1)-yl]-2-methyl-butene-(2)-al-( 1 (hereinafter called ,9- C -aldehyde) by means of a Reformatzky reaction with a 'y-bromo-tiglicacid ester and dehydrating the condensation product formed to produce 8-[2,6',6-trimethyl-cyclohexene (1) yl] 2,6 dimethyloctatriene-(2,4,6)- oic acid ester (hereinafter called B-C -ester). The latter may then be saponified to the free acid or may be reduced to the corresponding C -alcohol (8-[2',6',6'- trimethyl cyclohexene (1') yl] 2,6 dimethyloctatriene-(2,4,6)-ol-(l) The ,B-C -ester may be transformed into 8-[2',6',6'- trimethyl cyclohexene (1) yl] 2,6 dimethyloctatriene (2,4,6) al (1) (hereinafter called fi-C aldehyde), for example by reducing theB-C -ester, preferably with lithium aluminum-hydride or lithium-boronhydride to the B-C19-a1C0h01, whereupon the latter may then be oxydized to the known ,B-C -aldehyde (Annalen der Chemie, 575 [1952], page 105).

The -,/-bromo-tig1ic acid ester used as starting material may be prepared for example as follows: 152 g. (1 mol) of tiglic acid methylester are dissolved in 200 cc. of carbon tetrachloride, 263 g. (1.1 mol) of N-bromo-succinimide are added and the solution is refluxed for 2 /2 hours while exposing the same to light. Thereafter, the mixture is kept for 3 hours at 18 C., whereupon the succinimide precipitated is sucked off. After having removed the carbon tetrachloride, the bromo-tiglic ester is fractionated in vacuo. Boiling point 9092 C. Yield: 163.5 g. (63.5%).

EXAMPLE, 1

Preparation of /3-C -ester 38.4 g. (1 mol) of B-C -aldehyde in 60 cc. of benzene are added to 17.8 g. of activated zinc (1.1 mol, with respect to 'y-bIOmO-tigIiC acid methylester). The mixture is cautiously heated to boiling on an open flame and a solution of 48 g. (1.34 mol, with respect to SC -aldehyde) 'y-bromo-ti glic acid methylester-in 60 cc.'of benzene is added dropwise thereto. After addition of about cc. of this solution, heating is discontinued. The further addition of the benzene solution of 'y-bromo-tiglic acid 2 methyl-ester'is adjusted so that the mixture keeps boiling, the color thereof turning slowly to red-brown. The solution issubsequently refluxed for /2 hour. I

The solution is then treated with 200 cc. of 10 percent acetic acid, while cooling with ice water, and the benzene phase is separated. The acetic acid solution is extracted with ether, the'ethereal extracts are combinedwiththe benzene phase, the'combinedphases are washedneutral,

dried and the solvents are removed. Ared-brow-n oil is obtained.

The splitting off of water is effected, after having removed the tiglic acid methylester formed, by boiling for 10 minutes in high vacuo at a bath temperature of C.

The purification of the ,9-C -ester thus obtained may be carried out for example as follows: To the crude ester are added cc. of 10 percent methanolic potassium hydroxide solution and the mixture is refluxed for 2 hours. After cooling, the mixture is diluted with 225 cc. of water to'form an approximately 30 percent methanol solution and, by extraction with ether, some C -aldehyde is removed. After having acidified the alkaline aqueous phase with 10 percent sulfuric acid, the C -acid is extracted with ether, the ether solution is Washed, dried and evaporated. To the residue, consisting of 35 g. of a red-brown oil, are added 20 cc. of acetone. After 3 days standing at -18 C., the crystalline precipitate is filtered off. After repeated recrystallizations from acetone, the fl-C -acid is obtained in form of thick pale lemon-yellow colored crystals of melting point 147.5- 148.5 C. (non-corrected) k 302 m e=41800 (in methanol). The crystalline acid is re-esterified by dissolving in ether and adding dropwise thereto an ethereal solution of diazo methane at 0 C. until the mixture turns yellow. After standing for 20 minutes, the solution is treated with 10 percent acetic acid, the ethereal phase is washed, dried and the ether is removed. The B-C methylester thus purified is a yellow oil with A 310 m EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of fl-C -alcoho l The fl-C -alcohol thus obtained is a yellow oil. k

278 m e=37700 (in methanol).

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of the c -aldehyde 261.4 mg. ,e-c -alcohol are dissolved in 25. cc. of petroleum ether (4050 C.) and 1.5 g. manganese dioxide are added thereto. After one hours shaking at room temperature, the solution is filtered, the manganese dioxide is extracted 4 times with 50 cc. each of boiling ether, the ethereal phases are combined with the petroleum ether phase and the solvents are removed. 245

mg. of pale yellow oil. are obtained. A 328 m a: 32200 (in methanol).

For purification purposes, 120 mg. of this oil are passed through a column (15 cm. long, 0.8 cm. wide) of aluminum oxide (activity 1-2) by means of a mixture of petroleum ether (4050 C.) with increasingamounts of r v benzene, The C -aldehyde is already eluted 0-20 percent benzene being added. After removal of the solvents, the aldehyde crystallizes in honey-yellow prisms k 328-111;; =45300 (in methanol).

shows the following absorption maxima:

n, 333, 347 my; =71600 and 66100 (in methanol) Iclaim:

. l .1. .8 [2',6",6' trimethyicyelohexene (1) yll 2,6- .dimethyl-octan'iene-(2,4,6)-oic acid.

,2. v0 [2,6'.,6' trimethylcyclohexene 1' yl] L 2,6- dimethyl-octatxiene-(2,4,6)-oic acid ester.

3. 8- [2,6',6 trimethylcyelohexene (1') yl] 2,6-

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Isler et a1. Oct. 27, 1953 Benton et a1. July 13, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Harper et al.: Chemistry and Industry, vol. 29, pp. 5745 1950).

Inhofien et aL, Annalen der Chemie, 570, 54-69 1950 especially page 59.

. Die Chemie des Vitamin A by Dr. Otto Isler Separatabdruck aus Chimia, vol. 4, May 1950, pp. 103-118 (attention page 113.). 

2. 8- (2'',6'',6'' - TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXENE - (1'') - YLL- 2,6DIMETHYL-OCTATRIENE-(2,4,6) -OIC ACID ESTER.
 3. 8 - (2'',6'',6'' - TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXENE - (1'') - YLL -2,6DIMETHYL-OCTATRIENE-(2,4,6)-OL-(1). 